What's health care like in Australia, Canada and/or the USA?

[McStew]

I need some advice. I'm hoping to move from Ireland to another country sometime this year. I was thinking about moving back to the states, but since having Crohn's for nearly 4 years (in Ireland) and recently being put on both Imuran and Humira, I am absolutely TERRIFIED of living in the states because of the poor health care system there. I refuse to go into debt because I can't afford to pay my medical bills/medication. I've been thinking about trying either Canada or Australia, as I think it may be a better (temporary) option (if I can get the visa!).

I'm wondering what is the healthcare system like in each country? How much do you pay for your meds per month? How much are doctors visits? If I were to get a visa for Oz or Canada, could I avail of the "free" healthcare there, or do I need to be a long term resident who has paid my taxes? Is there such thing as getting insurance only for medication costs in America? Any websites or information would be really helpful. Thank you!

 

[PsychoJane]

Hello !
I don't know how it works for the visa and if the medical condition would prevent you from getting it in Canada as some stories are heard over the news where some people are refused or need to go back because of medical condition. I just don't know what applied and when for Canada and maybe it even changes from province to province.

What I may tell you though is that, in my province, it depends if you are on the public system or if you have private insurance. Many employers offer a private insurance that you are obliged to take, the prime varies greatly but most people I know pays something between 900-1200$ a year. That covers for the healthcare, and some extra practice credit like part of bills from chiroprator, massage therapy, etc. It really depend of the policy. When you are on the public system, you are expected to pay between 0$ and 563$ a year depending on your incomes. That covers for the healthcare in general. Doctor visits are "free" or should I say covered by that system. It's universal healthcare here after all. For the medications, if your condition is recognized by the gov, you will get your medication paid almost entirely. You need to pay for the copay which goes up to 82$ per months I believe. That is again for the public system. Private insurer usually pays up to 80% of your meds then it can go to 100% of then when you reach a certain amount (I am not too familiar with that part).

So because of all that "free" healthcare story I don't know how picky they would be about visa and such... I personally think that with the visa you need a side insurance and don't get to have the provincial insurance until you get the full citizenship unfortunately.

Good luck with all that! I know it's not easy as well, I feel like the only place I can be now is in Canada from the fact I got all those treatments...

 

[DustyKat]

Here is a link to Medicare Australia that explains what the government here covers.

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/migrants/language/english.jsp

I can't find anything that states there is a waiting period for a Medicare card if you have been granted residency...

People who reside in Australia - excluding Norfolk Island - are eligible if they:

-hold Australian citizenship
-have been issued with a permanent visa
-hold New Zealand citizenship
-have applied for a permanent visa (excludes an application for a parent visa)—other requirements apply. Contact Medicare for further information.

If you are visiting then Australia has a reciprocal agreement with Ireland that covers emergency treatment and subsidised medication.

I don't pay to go to the GP because he bulk bills. Some GP's do charge though and you then claim about 2/3 back through Medicare. Same goes with specialists but the amount you get back depends on how far above the scheduled fee they set their rate at.

Public hospital treatment is free. Most of the large teaching hospitals affiliated with universities are public. If you have private health insurance then naturally you can access the private system as well, well you can without insurance but you'd have to pay the full amount! :lol:
Private hospitals here are profit driven big time. I know that sounds obvious but I am talking to the extent that they don't have Accident and Emergency Units, well very few do, or ICU's, transplant units and on it goes because they don't make enough money on them and for people to pay for those types of services is too prohibitive. They are the realm of the public hospital.

Prescriptions here cost about $34.00 if you don't hold a health care card. If the medication is cheaper then you only pay that price. So for example, Matt's brand Flagyl for 100 tablets (1 months supply) was $28.00. His Imuran (brand) is $34.00 for 6 weeks supply. Some antibiotics for a course are $7.95. So it varies but if on the PBS the most you will pay for the script is $34.00.

Hope that helps and makes sense!

Dusty. xxx

 

[KWalker]

Oh, this is going to stir the pot lol. Healthcare in Canada is free. In Canada, each individual has the right to free healthcare. In other places its considered a priveledge. When you go to a clinic, doctor, or hospital you do not pay a penny. However, in Canada we pay taxes (and rediculous ones) at that, which in return gives us the free health care among other things. If you require (keyword) an ambulance it is free, however if they don't feel you do, they will send you a bill afterwards. Its usually 45 bucks.

For prescriptions I only pay 20% but that's included in my tuition for school that they cover the rest. Again, however and if you know anything about social classes this will make sense to you. We have 3 social classes (just like all other developed countries). Upper class, which are the people who can pay for whatever they want. Then you have the lower class (considered poverty) who cannot afford healthcare, so remembering what I said about healthcare being a right, the government provides that group with healthcare when they cannot afford it. Then you have the middle class, which takes up about 80% of the population. This is the people like most of us who work our ***** of, and still have nothing lol.

We still have free health care, but like someone said in another thread, you still might end up paying for prescriptions and one person mentioned having to pay for supplies for a stoma.

If you want my opinion, don't waste your time coming to Ontario, Canada. Unless you have a degree that can guarantee you a good job, the other jobs are very limited. We do have a higher minimum wage then the US, but our expenses are also a lot more too. For example, I pay $800 a month for rent in my 1 bedroom apartment. Sure its newly renovated, but I could almost pay a mortgage for that price.
We have stupid laws, our policing sucks, and we pay taxes for things that don't even exist!

If you go out west in Canada, such as Alberta, and you're willing to do manual labour you can almost guarantee yourself a job right away. Everyone and their dog seems to be moving out west for jobs, and they pay well too. I have a little bit of a backround in Sociology as well as World Economy (that's a real eye opener) and there are definately some better choice than Ontario.

Basically to sum it up;
Do we have free healthcare? Yes.
Do we make up for it in other areas? Yes.

 

[Lisa]

I think in the US it all depends on what kind of job you can get and what benefits they offer....

One reason I went in to the Civil Service field was the GOOD health benefits.....State/County/Municipal employees generally ahve pretty decent healthcare for a nominal amount....

For example, I pay (for a family) about $360/month - my Remicade treatment costs me NOTHING...blood work is $35-, ER visit is $70- co-pay (unless admitted - then no co-pay).....

Working in the privae sector can be hit or miss - my brother has some pretty hefty deductibles with his plan......not sure what his monthly premium is either....

There are also some supplemental plans you can buy - I pay $20-/month for an accident policy that pays me about $75/ for any ER or Dr visit due to an injury - this is on TOP of my regular insurance coverage...I also have sickness and hospital coverage - which can pay over $1000-/day for a hospital confinement with recovery payments afterwards.....that costs me I think $30-/mo...and yes, I have claimed on it and it is EASY!

 

[kllyeve]

I'm in Alberta and I pay $450 for an ambulance ride to the hospital regardless if anyone thinks I actually needed it or not. I can then submit the bill to my work health benefits and get that back, but Public Healthcare does not include ambulance(in Alberta anyway).
(This way some of the abuses of the ambulance system are prevented- ie drunks using them to get rides to the hospital to detox)

My Remicade would be covered by the governent if I did not have extended health benefits through work. These benefits cover the gaps or extras in the public system - dental, glasses, perscription medication. I am "middle class" so don't qualify for alot of the subsidies provided as I am considered to make too much money.

 

[DustyKat]

Oh, and pathology (bloods, urine, poop etc) are free. You get the request form from the GP or specialist and just go to the lab. Unless it is a "special" test you don't make an appointment, just turn up.

Dusty.

 

[moogie]

IN quebec it's 125$ for the ambulance trip, 50% of my salary goes away in taxes and I have two medical inssuracne to cover my prescriptions Because of those my remicade is free. But that insurracne costs us 1500$ a year.

I never pay to go see the doctor but I have tio wait about 2 months to see him. Ermergency rooms, you go only if you are dying otherwise you wait about 24 hours to see a doctor. Best bet is a clinic. Usually about 4 hours wait.

Nice enough place to live as long as you like snow and hockey!

 

[kjhngisd]

From the US, I think Miss Underestimated nailed it. My wife works in the hospital system, so we have pretty good coverage. The care is good too. It's hit-and-miss, as it probably is everywhere. If you live in a rural county, don't expect a Nobel Prize winning doctor to be there.
We live in a mid-size city and we're working with a G/I who's treated many Crohn's patients before. The hospital staff has been good (I'd give them at least a B+ or A-), EMS is fast and efficient.
Insurance is the issue, of course. But there are lots of options. We've just passed a big health care reform act that hasn't taken effect yet, but I don't think anyone knows what it's going to do. Still, hospitals will treat you regardless of your ability to pay (it's the law).
There's good and bad.
--kevin

 

[shamrock15]

Yeah, for Canada, keep in mind that you won't be covered by government for health costs for quite some time. If you move provinces, it is a three month wait. Coming from out of country, I am not sure how long you would need to wait. In Ontario, getting your doctor will likely be a problem. Many people can't get a general practitioner, and you generally need one to be referred to a specialist for ongoing care. When my last GI doctor retired, it took a year for me to get a consult with a new one. If you get your remicade covered, it will take time for the paper work. With the doctor's assistance for me, it took 6 months during which time my doctor ignored my symptoms and my Crohn's. Although bitter (very) about this, I will also admit that without our system I would likely be flower food right now. Still, health care in Ontario is sliding very badly right now, and I have heard that other provinces still look up to us here! You will really need some research on this.

 

[Bamagrl]

Another American here

From the South actually

It really does depend on your insurance or lack thereof

I live in Birmingham, AL and while we are not a huge city, we are the largest in Alabama

I work for an International Company and have excellent benefits - benefits that I thank God for everyday

We have a choice of either a High Deductible plan or the regular PPO - I personally chose the High Deductible because I meet the $2400 by the beginning of each year anyway

My Remicade treatment rate is set at $3065 with my insurance company so since I had my first one this year on the 6th, I have already met my $2400 deductible for the year

I was approved for the Remistart program which will help pay $550 towards the Remicade treatment and my company bankrolls us $900 at the beginning of the year in our HSA account (Health Savings Account)

The remaining balance, I will make a payment arrangement on and will pay for it using my monthly HSA contribution, which is tax deductible

We have charity hospitals here and there are definitely plenty of people who go to them but I personally would not want to

As someone above mentioned about "class" structure, the same holds true here

If you are rich, you go anywhere, if you are poor, you only go one place and if you are middle class and have private insurance, then you pretty much can write your own ticket also with some exceptions

If you lose that coveted insurance, then all h.ll breaks loose on you and then you are at the mercy of the govt

Do you qualify for Medicaid or Medicare - you have to be disabled for 2 years and unable to work before you can apply for Medicaid (shoot me if I get the word mixed up there, I never can keep them straight)

With Obamacare, insurance companies are not supposed to be able to deny you because of pre-existing conditions but I'm sure they will try to find any crevice there is to slip thru that requirement

If you are already sick and being treated in your home country, then personally, I don't know if I would leave

Employment in the States is not all that

Good jobs with good benefits are hard to come by unless you are highly educated and are in the technical or IT field

If you have the technical background, you can land some excellent jobs with excellent benefits but if you are a college graduate with a business degree, they are a dime a dozen here

Just my opinion

 

[Miss Underestimated]

I was being sarcastic.

From the US, I think Miss Underestimated nailed it. My wife works in the hospital system, so we have pretty good coverage. The care is good too. It's hit-and-miss, as it probably is everywhere. If you live in a rural county, don't expect a Nobel Prize winning doctor to be there.
We live in a mid-size city and we're working with a G/I who's treated many Crohn's patients before. The hospital staff has been good (I'd give them at least a B+ or A-), EMS is fast and efficient.
Insurance is the issue, of course. But there are lots of options. We've just passed a big health care reform act that hasn't taken effect yet, but I don't think anyone knows what it's going to do. Still, hospitals will treat you regardless of your ability to pay (it's the law).
There's good and bad.
--kevin

 

[stella_luna]

US here. If you have insurance, there is excellent medical care to be had, especially in the big cities. I receive world-class care from top doctors. Getting insurance with a history of Crohn's, however, will be impossible unless you get a job that offers insurance (insurance through employers has to take people even with preexisting conditions). Insurance is usually very expensive unless you get a job in the public sector (like a gov't job). For example, through my husband's job, we pay $900/month for our family of 3, $50 to see a doctor, $100/day hosp., Rxs we pay a percentage, but thank goodness we do have a $2500 maximum out-of-pocket per person limit, after which everthing is free (well, we still have to pay the $900/month and Rxs). If my husband loses his job and can't find another one in this recession, though, we would consider moving to Canada, because my hosptial/health care bills would just be astronomical without insurance, and the thought of going bankrupt and losing our home, our daughter's college savings, etc. is unbearable to me.

 

[Lisa]

Thankfully both my husband and I work for the government - I carry the insurance, so if something happens and I lose my job, I can be picked up by him (he would then put in for family coverage)...it would be through the same insurance carrier, so not sure how it would work with my pre-existing condition......keeping my job hopefully won't be an issue as I work for one of the few agancies that is actually GROWING!

 

[Crohn's 35]

I need some advice. I'm hoping to move from Ireland to another country sometime this year. I was thinking about moving back to the states, but since having Crohn's for nearly 4 years (in Ireland) and recently being put on both Imuran and Humira, I am absolutely TERRIFIED of living in the states because of the poor health care system there. I refuse to go into debt because I can't afford to pay my medical bills/medication. I've been thinking about trying either Canada or Australia, as I think it may be a better (temporary) option (if I can get the visa!).

I'm wondering what is the healthcare system like in each country? How much do you pay for your meds per month? How much are doctors visits? If I were to get a visa for Oz or Canada, could I avail of the "free" healthcare there, or do I need to be a long term resident who has paid my taxes? Is there such thing as getting insurance only for medication costs in America? Any websites or information would be really helpful. Thank you!

Where ever you plan to go are you seeking employment? What is your field in which you would persue? Or are you retired? Ontario isnt bad as it sounds, depends where you live in Canada and what you do for a living, and getting a doctor in Canada is very hard here but many walk in clinics. Just curious.

 

[McStew]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you for your replies. This forum is so wonderful for the very reason that I can learn a great deal from all of you and it's so nice knowing I'm not alone in all of this!

There's so much to the insurance thing, and I guess I never knew how fortunate I was to have a significant amount of my meds paid for in Ireland - this never crossed my mind....until it had to when I started Humira last month (mind you with plans for the past couples of years to finally travel this year and move country).

What scares me about the states is that it seems you have to have work in order to have appropriate health care coverage, what if I lost my job, or if I hated my job, but was too afraid to change because it was paying for my health care bills? I'm also not sure if the pre-existing conditions thing could have a really negative effect on me since I haven't had insurance in America for about 6 years.....(since I was living in a different country with insurance when I was diagnosed). I'm not sure if that can be used against me to get insurance coverage.

Pen, my background is in community development and health promotion. From what I can tell, health promotion is more prominent in Canada and Australia.

 

[f_else]

Are you looking to become a permanent resident or just traveling? Because if you want to become a permanent resident then I'm pretty sure you can get medicare in Australia, which is pretty awesome and will cover all basic costs and subsidises prescription costs.
Also we have nice weather and beaches...

 

[Nerple]

In Massachusetts, every resident is required to have health insurance (or pay the cost of insurance in extra taxes), and if you can't afford to pay for insurance and don't get it through your job, the commonwealth will provide you with health insurance. So there are some differences between insuranc eplans like co-pay costs and prescription costs but you're pretty much garunteed to be able to get care.

 

[braveheart]

McStew, you really surprised me.
Isn't Healthcare free in the UK and the rest of Europe?

A friend of mine lives in England and also has a cronic illness (Diabetes). He recieves meds for free.

 

[outlier]

In New York their is a public option with a sliding scale payment system. I don't know if Rx are included. but it does take some time to enroll.

I have great coverage through my work but with 4x year doc appt with gi and rhemy, a little list of med including humira. I spent last year over $2,000 in healthcare just in copays. that doesn't count physical therapy and vitaimans . with that i pay 11% of my income every month towards medical things. and i consider my self lucky

just cause it's a big city with world class hospitals doesn't mean you will necessarily find a good doctor.

 

[Bamagrl]

I know this probably doesn't help with your deciding whether to come to the States or not and as I said in my previous post, jobs are necessarily easy to come by but I did want to relate my experience to you

I have had medical problems since my daughter was born in 2000 and each year something new and exciting crops up

Biggest yet was the Crohn's in '08 but I have never had any problems with being treated

I have never had to wait to see a doctor

I have never had my insurance denied and the only time I actually had to go thru the ordeal of an approval process was for Remicade which I just started

Maybe, I have been very lucky but all my docs, hospitals, clinics, labs, etc have always been in-network and I have never had to fight the insurance company over whether they would pay a bill or not

My individual deductible is $2400 a year or $3000 family - I always hit mine and my daughter and husband barely manage to go to the doctor at all each year

Thankfully, once I've met my deductible, everything for the rest of the year is paid for 100% and my meds that had cost me the full amt because they were not maintenance meds, now go down to $10; $25 & $40

I put aside $4300 into a HSA account each year and I spend every penny of it but it is tax deductible

I consider myself very lucky to have the coverage that I do and I know my experience is probably not the norm but I have received excellent care with very few hassles if any

Any hospital I have ever been in had private rooms so I do not know what it is like to be on a ward but it doesn't sound pleasant

Cable TV, Internet, etc is provided and my doctors, nurses and hospital staff have always been wonderful to my family

They've never pushed me out the door - usually when I go in, they keep me for a minimum of a week, which actually I hate but I am in much better shape when I leave the hospital than when I entered

Those have been my experiences

It is true that should I lose my job and thus my insurance, I am royally screwed but until then, I am in a very good place

 

[McStew]

f_else - I was hoping to get temporary residency visas in either place (Canada or Australia). I'm Irish American, so I can move back to America (I've spent most of my adult life in Ireland though - hence my lack of knowledge in this area).

Braveheart - healthcare in Europe depends on what country you live in. In theory more public systems operate in most places, but in Ireland for example there are both public and private options. If you're a public patient, people can sometimes go on a waiting list for months to see a consultant. Hospital stays are at a minimum payment per day and medications are no more than 132 Euro per month (the state pays the rest). If you have an income that falls below a certain amount, then a person can be entitled to free medications and doctors visits. Like someone said in an earlier post though, there is usually not much for people that fall in the middle income bracket, this is similar here. Organisations for Crohns/Colitis have been advocating to put these Crohn's/UC on the Long Term Illness scheme, which would allow people with such conditions to access hospital, have Doctor visits and medication all free of charge - regardless of income. This is yet to be recongised by the state unfortunately. Having private insurance through my husband's job, I can get colonoscopies covered by insurance and I pay half of the cost for doctors/consultants appointments. I continue to pay 132 euro per month for my meds, and I recognise I am really blessed to have all of this covered.

Bamagirl- Sounds like you have amazing health insurance - how reassuring! I'm not famililar at all with the Health Savings Account. I should investigate this a bit more.

 

[bozzylozzy]

i didnt realise that ireland would be quite different from uk's nhs. i stayed in hospital for 16 nights last year and didnt pay a penny.
- but i do agree with the fact you have to wait a while to see a specialist - but once you're under the care of your specialist, its pretty quick to get some tests. im getting my colonoscopy soon. i saw my gp last tues, and had an xray 24hrs later for my knees.
i love our NHS system.. as im undiagnosed - i dont know what happens with the cost of remicade and all those other meds would be. but the Nhs prescription charge is currently £7.40.. so im presuming thats what they cost too?? (if anyone in the uk is reading this and knows,, please let me know)


however.. if going to another country for a while will make you happy. it might do wonders for your stress levels! and make you feel better

 

[braveheart]

Braveheart - healthcare in Europe depends on what country you live in. In theory more public systems operate in most places, but in Ireland for example there are both public and private options. If you're a public patient, people can sometimes go on a waiting list for months to see a consultant.

Well, here in Argentina we also have the public and the private options. On the bright side doctors are the same, they are very skilled and ussualy work for both systems. But infraestructure... :yfrown:

I have been hospitalized in both. In my last surgery I felt so comfortable and safe at the private hospital that I didn't want to go home.

On my first flare I went to the nearest public hospital. It feels like you really want to get better soon and run away. I think it speeds up your recover!

 

[slightlysilly]

Im late answering this thread, but I'm in the same boat as Bamagirl. My dh owns a small business, and the premium through the business for dh, ds and myself is $843 per month. We are on a group plan with my dh and ds being on one plan and I'm on the other. I have a $2500 deductible and an HSA plan. I blow through my deductible on any random remicade visit, and then everything else is covered 100%. Which totally beats the 80/20 situation.

I've heard that you can go to an insurance broker and buy health insurance, but I've never actually heard of anyone who got it who has Crohn's.

 

[Ashsugar]

If you decide to come to ontario canada, healthcare is basically free, I agree with the earlier posts, but here is some added information. If you do not have a drug plan then there is a government run program called trillium, you pay a deductible based on your income, and then once your deductible is paid you pay $2 a prescription. They cover most things including humira and remicade but those medications are covered through trillum with a letter from your doctor called a section 8. So yeah ontario is a pretty good place for health care, we do pay higher taxes but I would much rather do that then pay for my healthcare.